Sexual Harassment Guidelines

Sexual harassment of a student, an employee or any other person in the College is unlawful, unacceptable, impermissible and intolerable.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It occurs in a variety of situations which share a common element: the inappropriate introduction of sexual activities or comments into the work or learning environment. Often, sexual harassment involves relationships of unequal power and contains elements of coercion, as when compliance with requests for sexual favors becomes a criterion for granting work, study or grading benefits. However, sexual harassment may also involve relationships among equals, as when repeated sexual advances or demeaning verbal behaviors have a harmful effect on a person’s ability to study or work in the academic setting.

For general purposes, sexual harassment may be described as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors and other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or education; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions affecting that individual or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or demeaning employment or educational environment.

A student, an employee, or any other person in the College who is found to have engaged in sexual harassment is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment or expulsion from the College.

When a student, an employee or any other person in the College believes s/he has been the subject of sexual harassment, the complaint/grievance process is a mechanism for redress. Whether a complaint/grievance is formal or informal, the College will conduct a prompt, thorough, fair and objective investigation, and will take such corrective action as is appropriate under the circumstances. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain confidentiality during the grievance process.

No student or employee shall be retaliated against for filing a discrimination complaint/grievance or for cooperating with the College’s investigation thereof. For more information, for a copy of the Affirmative Action Complaint/Grievance Procedure, or to file a complaint/grievance, contact Thomas L. Saltonstall, the College’s Affirmative Action Officer, at 250 New Rutherford Avenue, Room A307, Boston, MA 02129 by calling 617-228-3311, or via email at tlsalton@bhcc.mass.edu.

Sexual harassment is forbidden by both federal and state regulations. In keeping with these regulations, a concerted effort will be made to protect employees, students and others from sexual harassment as defined.